Juliana from Nicomedia

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Juliana from Nicomedia

Juliana of Nicomedia (also Juliana of Nicomedia ) (* 285 in Nicomedia , † 304 ibid) was a saint and martyr of the early Church . The tradition after she suffered martyrdom during the persecution of Christians under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian in 304. She is the patroness at childbirth and illness.

Historical background

Both the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches list a holy martyr named Juliana in their martyrologies . The oldest historical mention is in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum for February 16; there her place of birth is given as Cumae , Campania ( "In Campania Cumbas, natale Julianae" ).

This mention is only made in the only manuscript of the above list of martyrs (the Codex Epternacensis ). However, it is clear that the mention is authentic; this is made clear by a letter from St. Gregory , which testifies to the special veneration of St. Juliana in the Naples area . A pious woman named Januaria had built a church on one of her properties and wanted relics of Saints Severinus and Juliana to be consecrated . Gregory wrote to Fortunatus, the bishop of Naples , instructing him to comply with January's request ( "Gregorii Magni epist., Lib. IX, ep. Xxxv" , in Mignes Patrologia Latina , LXXXVII, 1015).

The tradition

The deeds of St. Juliana, which Beda Venerabilis lists in his martyrology, have no historical evidence. According to the report, St. Juliana lived in Nicomedia and was promised to Senator Eleusius. Her father Africanus was a heathen and hostile to Christians. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian and Maximian, Juliana was beheaded after enduring the torture . Another Christian, Barbara, was martyred with her and was also canonized .

A little later, a noblewoman named Sephonia came through Nicomedia and took the body of the saint to Italy , where she had it buried in Campania. Obviously, it was this transfer of the corpse that led to the merging of the identity of the martyr Juliana, venerated in Nicomedia, with that of St. Juliana of Cumae .

Later story

The veneration of Saint Juliana was widespread in the Middle Ages , especially in the Netherlands . At that time she became the patroness of childbirth and illness.

At the beginning of the 13th century her relics were transferred to Naples ; A contemporary report of this transfer still exists. The day of the saints is celebrated in the Catholic Church on February 16 , in the Greek Orthodox on December 21 .

In iconography , St. Juliana is portrayed under torture or fighting a winged devil or leading the devil by a chain. She is also shown with a book and a martyr's crown, with a devil usually sitting at her feet with a pleading gesture.

literature

Web links

Commons : Juliana von Nikomedia  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Juliana from Nicomedia
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Juliana of Nicomedia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Saint, martyr
DATE OF BIRTH 285
PLACE OF BIRTH Nicomedia
DATE OF DEATH 304
Place of death Nicomedia